Senate approves bills to improve safety on Route 12 and throughout state

Bills create process for double fine zone designation, establish zone on Route 12

SACRAMENTO –The Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing voted today to approve two bills by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) that work together to improve safety conditions on State Highway Route 12, the site of a recent series of fatal accidents.

Wolk’s AB 112 creates a new process to establish safety enhancement-double fine zones on dangerous highways throughout the state. ACR 7 states the Legislature’s intent to designate Highway 12 a double fine zone, and designates a portion of State Highway Route 12 in Solano County as the Officer David Lamoree Memorial Highway.

“David Lamoree was a police officer with the city of Rio Vista. He died on October 23, 2007, as a result of a collision on State Route 12, where many others have lost their lives this year. It is imperative that we do everything possible to reduce the tragedies on this highway,” said Wolk. “These bills are part of a collaborative effort with Caltrans and CHP to improve safety on Route 12. Double fine zones, highway improvements, increased law enforcement, and public education are all elements of this safety package. Together, these measures will work to protect drivers on this dangerous stretch of road, where the number of collisions and deaths increases every year.”

Specifically, AB 112 requires Caltrans to designate a highway segment as a double fine zone if it meets criteria developed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) and specified in AB 112. Criteria include a legislative resolution expressing intent to establish a double fine zone, minimum accident rates, and a commitment from local agencies to increase enforcement, create a public awareness campaign, and install traffic safety enhancements.

“This legislation streamlines the process by which safety enhancement-double fine zones are designated, addressing concerns expressed by the administration with the current, piecemeal approach to designating these double fine zones,” said Wolk.  

Among those speaking at the hearing in support of both AB 112 and ACR 7 were Lamoree’s parents and grandparents.  -

“David was driving home one night after monitoring Highway 12 for speeders when he was hit head on by another vehicle,” said Beverly Lamoree, the officer’s mother. “I would appreciate if the highway could be named in his honor, and that all of these efforts, putting in the rumble strips, concrete barriers, doubling the fines, could move forward on Blood Alley.”

Both AB 112 and ACR 7 have strong support from local government, including all seven mayors in Solano County. Among those testifying in support of the bills were representatives of the Solano Transportation Authority (STA), AB 112’s sponsor, as well as the Solano County Board of Supervisors, the Highway 12 Association, the Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, Rio Vista Mayor Eddie Woodruff, and Fairfield Mayor Harry Price. AB 112 is also supported by the San Joaquin Council of Governments, and the City of Stockton. 

AB 112 will next be heard in the Senate Public Safety Committee. ACR 7 now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.